Popular Options for Bathroom Flooring

When choosing a flooring option for your bathroom, of course you want it to look great. Bathrooms come in all shapes and sizes, and they’re no longer just a necessity; they have become a haven, our place to unwind after a long day (think long hot bath with a great book). There are so many modern upgrades that have made their way into our homes; things like touch free faucets, self-defogging mirrors and heated floors just to name a few.

But even with all of those modern options, you’ll need a proper foundation – the floor. There are important factors to keep in mind when shopping for your bathroom flooring, so here are a few of the top sellers in the market and why they have made the cut.

Stone

Stone gives a very beautiful, rich and elegant look to any room. That being said, it comes in at the top of the price range for flooring. There are many different types of natural stone to choose from; some of the most popular being: marble, granite, limestone, travertine and slate.

Stone is easy to care for and very durable; however keep in mind that most stones can be slippery which can prove dangerous in a bathroom. To avoid accidents, opt for a naturally textured stone such as slate; or you can have the more slick tiles honed or textured through techniques such as grounding and sandblasting. Stone is also cold, so make sure to keep your slippers handy if you are not using that new heating element under your floor.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is always one of the most popular options; and many say it satisfies the better of two worlds – it still gives an elegant look and solid feel like stone does, but it comes in at a lower price. Ceramic tile comes in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, is water resistant and does not harbor germs and bacteria. On the downside, like stone, ceramic tile is cold and also slippery, so make sure to check into having these tiles honed as well.

Vinyl

Vinyl still remains the “go-to” in bathroom flooring. This is the best option for pricing if you’re on a bathroom budget, hands down. Most vinyl is installed in sheets, however the self-stick vinyl tiles are becoming popular due to the fact they are a great DIY weekend project-which saves money on installation. They can also be replaced individually if need be.

Vinyl is waterproof, easy to clean, warm, quiet and soft on the feet. The downsides to this option are that it must be replaced quite often – edges tend to curl up, colors and patterns fade, and it shows signs of wear and tear around the 5 year mark (if you are lucky); and for the more obvious reason- it looks like, well… vinyl. Vinyl is basic and will not give you that rich elegant look of stone and ceramic tile, no matter which pattern or color you choose.

Do you have a favorite flooring option for bathrooms? If so, let us know in the comments section below.